When I was placed in this role, I had only three goals for my year:

A functional Grand Lodge web page, an online officer training program, and to encourage Lodges to have more fun. The Grandview System was on my radar, but computer incompetent that I am, I had no idea that it would include a whole new database system that would revolutionize the way we do Grand Lodge and individual Lodge business. It was way beyond my level of expertise but thank goodness we have Mike Johnson as my successor. It’s too big a job for my year, but I’m proud to say it is begun. Huge thanks to MW Bro Terry Murray for taking the lead and moving it forward.

My other specific goal was a result of a question on the DDGM Condition of Freemasonry Report, “Does the Lodge conduct Grand Lodge Officer Training?” The answer from most Lodges was “What Grand Lodge Officer Training?” It’s been years since Grand Lodge provided (or at least promoted) any Officer Training. I remember attending a training session over ten or twelve years ago and hardly anyone has mentioned it since. Brethren, the Committee on Leadership and Education has done a wonderful job of putting together a revamped Officer Training Program and it is on our Grand Lodge website. Now the question is, will anyone make use of it? I offer this challenge to Mike, Gord, James, and all the incoming DDGMs: please don’t let all this effort go to waste. Huge thanks to Bill Brook and his whole team of mentors and educators.

My final goal was a bit vague, but I think it was the most important: Let’s have more fun in our Lodge meetings. Over the months, I have put forward thirty-six specific ideas for activities that Lodges could choose to use to make their meetings more Fun, Educational, Stimulating, Transformational, Interesting, Valuable, Entertaining.  It’s been a thrill to be invited to visit Lodges that have taken some of those ideas and made them a reality. Lodges like Grande Prairie #105 where they held a ritual competition to recognize excellence in Masonic Ritual presentation. Lodges like Commercial #81 and Temple-Centennial #167 who held Masonic International Day at which eleven different Grand Lodges were represented and over a hundred and thirty Brethren attended. Sadly, I still found some Lodges where they don’t get it. I know I am preaching to the choir here at AnnCom, but I sincerely hope you will all carry the message back to your Lodges. If you want your Lodge to thrive and grow, make sure your meetings are more fun than a night sitting home watching NetFlicks.

I’m thrilled to tell you that Alberta Freemasonry has been making noise all over the world. Thanks to MW Bro Chris Uchman, we were represented in the Philipines, California, Texas, and he and Mike went to the conference of Grand Masters. We had Alberta Brethren in Japan, Jamaica, Serbia, United Kingdom, Mexico, several other US States and all over Canada.

Thank you to all the Brethren who stepped up and made things work: Bill, Mike, Gord, James, other James, Chris, Terry, Ken, other Kenn with two Ns, Stuart (my plus one almost everywhere I went). You each know what you did to help me when I needed you. Thank you is not enough, but it’s all I’ve got. I love you guys. To all the Appointed Grand Lodge Officers who carried my message of fun to all the places I couldn’t get to. Thank you. To the ones who drove hundreds of kilometres to join me on visits. Thank you.

Later this afternoon, I’m going to sit with the other Past GMs and just relax. I’m going to take some time to get to know my wife again and to recharge my batteries.
Mike, I hope you have a great year. I hope the messes that I have left for you don’t cause you too many sleepless nights.

Finally Brethren, I am having fun. Are you?